Battle of Foundations (479 av. J. - C.)

Negotiations

Mardonios new the généralissime Persian declares after Salamine: “The Cypriot , the men of Phénicie, Cnide and Egypt, only were overcome, not Persians which could not fight. ” This frame of mind is revealing will of the Perses to continue the combat in spite of the departure of Xerxès I {{er}}. However Mardonios considers impossible the continuation of the operations with the approach of the bad season and takes its winter quarters in Thessalie. It benefits from it for launching intense diplomatic operations near Athens which it hopes to detach from the remainder of its allies. But the embassy sent in the capital attic, under the direction of a prince of Macedonia, Alexandre, is seen answering that “ as long as the sun would go on its usual way ” the Athenians would not make alliance with the Persian sovereign. Anxious the Spartans send to them-also an embassy in order to counter the argumentation of Persians. It is received rather coldly by the furious Athenians who one can doubt their determination. They specify that “ the fact of being Greek, of dividing same blood and the same language, to have common sanctuaries and sacrifices as well as similar manners ” prohibits treason to them.

Resumption of the hostilities

In spring Mardonios then invades again the Attique, which is once more evacuated by its inhabitants, re-occupies Athens and settles in Béotie. A coalition of the forces of the Peloponnese is created, in spring 479 av. J. - C. directed by Pausanias, regent of Sparte and nephew of Léonidas I {{er}}. It includes/understands troops of Sparte, undoubtedly 10 000 Hoplites and 30 000 with 35 000 back-up troops, plus 8.000 Athenians and a few thousands of men coming from the other cities of Greece, such Corinth, Épidaure, Mégare, Foundations, Trézène, Chalcis, Phlionte, Égine, etc the Greeks align approximately 110 on the whole; 000 soldiers is 3 times less than Persians, but we already saw that it was not a handicap. That however constitutes the Greek troop most considerable ever joined together, even if it is undoubtedly necessary to there too undervalue strongly real manpower.

The Greeks cross the Isthme of Corinth, are able close to Éleusis in order to pass in Béotie. Mardonios chooses a site, in the south of Thèbes close to Foundations, which must support its cavalry. Opposite, the Spartans hold the right wing and the Athenians the left wing.

The battle

Pausanias passes for a warned general, ready to detect the weak points of the adversary, but Mardonios is regarded him-also as an excellent tactician and the best Persian general. Moreover the departure of Xerxès I {{er}} leaves him the freehands to lead the battle to its own way. Each of the two generals wishes, in Platées, to lead the adversary to launch out against its own positions.

Initially Pausanias discusses the buttresses of the Cithère mount while Mardonios installs its camp strengthened on other bank of the Asopus river. An attack of the Persian cavalry on the Greek positions fails but Mardonios made badger the lines with supply of its adversaries and the water points. Pausanias changes position then and settles in the plain where a small solid mass of hills protects its army from a frontal attack of the enemy riders. But at the end of ten days lack of water and living the constrained one to withdraw itself, in middle of the night, towards a position closer as of its old lines, where the supply is easier. This retirement is done in a certain confusion and the various Greek units lose the contact.

At this point in time Mardonios makes an error of fatal appreciation. It estimates that the disorganization among Greeks enables him to launch an attack, the August 27th 479 av. J. - C., instead of waiting until the quarrels between the various Greek quotas do not divide its adversaries. The Persian attack especially encounters a savage resistance on behalf of the Spartiates which, although crossed remainder of the army, occupy a position of overhang protecting them from the unfavourable cavalry. It is in this combat that Mardonios is killed. The death of their chief, then the attack given against their fortified camp and the arrival from the other Greek units which had just overcome the Philistines, allied with the Perses, involve the defeat of the troops of Xerxès I {{er}} and their massacre in great number. Well little seems it manage to flee and join another Persian army corps whose chief, Artabaze in conflict with Mardonios, made already half-turn towards the Hellespont with approximately 40.000 men. As for Thèbes which had collaborated with Persians it is taken quickly and its chiefs are carried out. The Greek losses are considered at approximately 3000 died, it is on the other hand impossible to evaluate those of the Persian camp. Enormous spoils are taken in the camp of Mardonios.

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